The Foundations of an Innovating Society: Atlantic Canada's Capacity for Research and Development

February 1, 2002

Vol. 36, No. 4, Winter 2002

Research and development are key foundations of an innovating society. If Atlantic Canada is to compete successfully in the knowledge economy, it will need to significantly increase its investment in research and development (R&D). On a number of indicators that can be used to measure capacity for innovation and success in the knowledge economy, Atlantic Canada lags well behind the rest of the country. In 1999, R&D spending in Atlantic Canada was $656 million, less than 4% of Canada’s total. Part of the gap can be explained by the small share of R&D undertaken by the region’s private sector. Other topics addressed in this issue include federal expenditures on R&D, the role of universities, and others.

Publication Files

February 1, 2002

The Foundations of an Innovating Society: Atlantic Canada's Capacity for Research and Development